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Bierhoff, Klinsmann Lead Germany Over Iran
Oliver Bierhoff and Juergen Klinsmann each scored goals on headers, helping Germany defeat Iran, 2-0, on June 25 and advance to the next round. With the loss and Yugoslavia's 1-0 victory over the United States, the Iranians were eliminated.

From The Post

JUNE 2: In Iran, Soccer's a Political Football
JUNE 14: Favored Yugoslavia Holds Off Upstarts
JUNE 20: Iran Team Earns Village's Respect
JUNE 21: U.S. Defeating U.S. Is Only Part of the Challenge
JUNE 21:U.S., Iran Find Politics Are Afoot
JUNE 22: U.S. Loses to Iran, 2-1, Fades From World's View

From AP

JUNE 22: Revelers Pack Tehran Streets After Victory
JUNE 25: Workmanlike Germany Advances With 2-0 Win
More AP Stories

World Cup Highlights

Second appearance in the World Cup finals (1978, 1998)
Three-time winner of the Asian Championship (1968, 1972, 1976)

First-Round Results

Day Opponent Site Sunday, June 14 Yugoslavia 1, Iran 0 Saint-Etienne Sunday, June 21 Iran 2, United States 1 Lyon Thursday, June 25 Germany 2, Iran 0 Montpellier

Complete First-Round Results

Roster

Pos. Name Age Club GK Ahmad Abedzadeh 32 Pirouzi GK Nima Nakisa 22 Pirouzi GK Parviz Boromand 24 Unknown D Mohammad Peyravani 28 Pirouzi D Ali Ostadasadli 32 Zob E Ahan D Mohammad Khakpour 29 Pirouzi D Javad Zarincheh 32 Esteghlal D Nader Mohammadkhani 34 Unknown D Mehdi Pashazadeh 34 Esteghlal M Karim Bagheri 24 Arminia Bielefeld M Hamid Estili 31 Bahman M Mehdi Mahdavikia 20 Pirouzi M Mehrdad Minavand Chal 22 Pirouzi M Naim Saadavi   Pirouzi M Ali Reza Mansourian 25 Estaghlel M Reza Shahroudi 26 Pirouzi M Sirous Din Mohammadi 29 Shahrdari Tabriz F Khodadad Azizi 26 Cologne F Ali Daei 29 Arminia Bielefeld F Ali Latifi 22 Unknown F Behnam Seraj 25 Unknown F Satar Hamedani 22 Bahman

Road to France

Won Lost Tied GF GA 8 3 6 57 17 How Qualified: Second place in AFC Group A, lost to Japan in AFC playoff, defeated Australia in AFC/OFC playoff

Date Result AFC/OFC Playoff Nov. 29, 1997 Australia 2, Iran 2 Nov. 22, 1997 Iran 1, Australia 1 AFC Third-Place Match Nov. 16, 1997 Japan 3, Iran 2 AFC Second Round — Group A Nov. 7, 1997 Qatar 2, Iran 0 Oct. 31, 1997 Iran 0, Kuwait 0 Oct. 24, 1997 Saudi Arabia 1, Iran 0 Oct. 17, 1997 Iran 4, China 1 Oct. 3, 1997 Iran 3, Qatar 0 Sept. 26, 1997 Kuwait 1, Iran 1 Sept. 19, 1997 Iran 1, Saudi Arabia 1 Sept. 13, 1997 China 2, Iran 4 AFC First Round — Group 2 June 13, 1997 Iran 2, Syria 2 June 11, 1997 Iran 9, Maldives 0 June 9, 1997 Iran 3, Kyrgyzstan 1 June 6, 1997 Syria 0, Iran 1 June 4, 1997 Kyrgyzstan 0, Iran 7 June 2, 1997 Maldives 0, Iran 17

Facts and Figures

Knight-Ridder/Tribune
Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Pakistan
Population: 64.6 million (1995 estimate)
Capital: Tehran
Comparative area: Slightly larger than Alaska
Religions: Shi'a Muslim 95 percent, Sunni Muslim 4 percent, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian and Baha'i 1 percent
Landscape: Rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts